By Edward Brown

The Prestige is a fascinating film that unfolds like a magic trick. By the time its credits roll, the project reveals itself to be an excellent commentary on the performative nature of human existence. The kind of performance that we all engage in on some level daily. Your work persona is not the same as your weekend persona which isn’t the same as your Facebook persona. The Prestige gives you a fantastic opportunity to partake in an exercise of contemplative self-awareness. And psychoanalysis aside, the film is just a delight because of its captivating storytelling, cinematography, and riveting performances. The Prestige engages your sense of wonder with spectacular illusions and satiates your curiosity by pulling back the curtain to reveal some of magic’s best kept secrets.

In the context of performance magic, the word "prestige" is associated with the climax of an illusion: it’s preceded by two acts, “The Pledge” and “The Turn.” At the moment of “The Prestige,” a (good) magician executes a seemingly impossible feat that leaves an audience delightfully flabbergasted. (Think old-school David Copperfield. Don’t think of lame dud Chris Angel.) “The Prestige” is meant to leave a lasting impression on an audience. It’s the moment when a mystery is resolved, and an audience gets to witness the culmination of a magician's skill and artistry. In the beginning of the film, Michael Cain’s character, Cutter, gives a beautiful soliloquy to this point and that sets the tone for the film to have a real metanarrative quality to it.

And the metanarrative qualities that The Prestige puts on display by way of the bitter rivalry it portrays between its main characters are so titillating. The film uses a non-linear narrative structure to illustrate the feud between rival magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), and that format mirrors the structure of a magic trick. Both Borden and Angier make use of deception in their magic acts, and this mirrors the narrative twists and turns within the film itself, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. There are several times throughout the film when you realize that you’ve been duped, and that constant trickery keeps you engaged. You’re either impressed by the ruse or trying to anticipate the next act of subterfuge. 

Christopher Nolan, the film’s ambitious director, is really clever to conflate the theme of deception with the theme of revenge to drive the plot of The Prestige. Ostensibly, The Prestige is a grandiose film about two magicians and the industry of their craft: “[Borden]’s a wonderful magician. He's a dreadful showman.” But the true essence of the movie is about besting a rival by any deceptive means at your disposal. Borden and Angier spend the whole movie deceiving and sabotaging each other in the most entertaining but cruel ways possible. Their methods of contest, while clandestinely clever, feel petty at best, and, at times, egregious at worst. And that vacillation between innocuous and malicious is the primary element of The Prestige that keeps you invested. 

*Why are these two guys so petty?* Because they feel trespassed in an unforgivable way! *Would I ever be this petty?* Yes. *Have I ever been this petty?* Probably! We’ve all had a moment where we’ve contemplated/executed revenge on a scale from “let it go” to “scorched earth,” and The Prestige reminds you of that. Another thing the film makes clear is that innocents suffer through that process. Revenge and obsession lights everyone’s world on fire. Both magicians’ significant others in The Prestige struggle to endure as their partners feud. Sarah Borden (Rebecca Hall) conveys a palpable pain that fantastically balances the whimsy of the film’s magic. Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johansson) feels like a prop that everyone is just using: a horrible display of humanity.

But it’s a display worth bearing witness. The period setting is meticulously recreated, and the use of visual effects by cinematographer, Wally Pfister,  dramatically enhance the film’s sense of wonder and mystery. Moreover, The Prestige explores deep philosophical questions about the nature of existential performance, storytelling, and deception. That allows the film to challenge an audience to question its own reality. Overall, "The Prestige" is a masterfully crafted film that combines elements of mystery, drama, and psychological thrill to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. And an exceptional cinematic experience forces you to juxtapose what you’re seeing with how you’re living. 

The Prestige is available on most major platforms.